Demand an explanation as to how my son became anti-national: Rohith's mother

"I demand an explanation as to how my son became anti-national and extremist," Rohith Vemula's mother said at a press conference in New Delhi. "Letters that were forwarded frm HRD Ministry indicated that students were branded as anti-national and extremists," ANI quoted her as saying.

"Smriti Irani is lying and diverting issue, he never received the stipend for seven months," she further said.

"Why use cinematic and dramatic expressions when you are making false statements? Bring out all the documents," another friend of Rohith Vemula said at the press conference in New Delhi.

16:49 (IST)

(Updates from outside Parliament in New Delhi)

"Why use cinematic and dramatic expressions when you are making false statements? Bring out all the documents," another friend of Rohith Vemula said at the press conference in New Delhi.

16:48 (IST)

(Updates from outside Parliament in New Delhi)

We appeal to PM to take action against Smriti Irani: Rohith's friend

"PM Modi said India has lost a son. If India has lost a son, the same son was branded as anti-national. The same son was branded as extremist by your own cabinet minister. What action has Narendra Modi taken against his cabinet minister? Why has he not sacked Bandaru Dattatreya?" Rohith's friend said.

"Why has no action been taken against Smriti Irani? She has given false statements thrice," he said. "In the Parliament, giving false statements is an offence."

"We appeal to the honourable Prime Minister to take stringent action against Smriti Irani for misleading the nation," he added.

"We want an SIT team to probe this incident," he said.

16:44 (IST)

(Updates from outside the Parliament in New Delhi)

Smriti Irani lied in Parliament: Rohith Vemula's friend

One of Rohith Vemula's friend in a press conference claimed that Union minister Smriti Irani had lied in the Parliament. "Smriti Irani was lying that no medical officer was present...The government created conditions which led to Rohith's death," he said.

"She is said to have quoted Rohith's note on Facebook. Rohith had many opinions apart from this one," he said. "He was also constantly questioning the basic principles of Rss and BJP. Why is Smriti Irani selectively taking the statements of Rohith? Why is she afraid to talk about Rohith's opinions on RSS and BJP in Parliament?" he said.

15:41 (IST)

Deputy Speaker says he will get the documents read by Smriti Irani in Parliament on Thursday verified.

15:27 (IST)

Sitaram Yechury: I beseech you, please do not pass unverified statements as evidences

I beseech you, please do not pass unverified statements as evidences: Sitaram Yechury in Rajya Sabha

Arun Jaitley intervened and said, that every word spoken by Smriti Irani was authentic, unlike Sitaram Yechury who according to Jaitley was weaving fact with fiction.

A ruckus ensued, as Jaitley, Yechury and Smriti Irana engaged in speaking loudly, causing distress to the Deputy Chairman.

15:15 (IST)

Sitaram Yechury brought out the case of how Mahabali's resurrection is celebrated through Onam. "Mahishasura is the king of Asuras. India comes with these traditions and that is our diversity. Who is a good Hindu? Will they give certificates and say I am a good hindu. Why is all this brought out here and creating a mayhem in the country and bringing stories of Durga and Mahishasura. Atal Bihari called Indira Gandhi, Maa Durga in this very house, she refused to accept it," he said.

15:13 (IST)

Sitaram Yechury takes the floor

I don't want to be personal. I don't want stoop to that level.

In this one month, I am asking, did anybody from the authorities talk to the dalit students? With regard to JNU, the security guard has given them the evidence, one security guard appointed by the university. All based on un-truths.

Dalit professor was the dean of students welfare; he gave a dissenting note and quit the committee and therefore don't hold the dalit teacher responsible for the decisions

Without these facts established, nothing should go on record. Are you permitting any quotes from cyberspace as evidence? Are you permitting these untruths?

15:04 (IST)

PJ Kurien asks Mayawati to conclude her speech and says that it won't go on record. Mayawati continues to talk over him.

15:01 (IST)

Smriti Irani had promised to cut off her head if I wasn't satisfied with her answer. Will she fulfil that promise? says Mayawati

On 24 Feb, I was told that on the discussion of the Rohith Vemula suicide issue, I would be given an answer on whether a Dalit member had been part of the inquiry committee or not. The HRD Ministry did not give me a correct answer to this question.

When I had raised the Rohith Vemula issue, I had felt that if they had kept a Dalit member in the committee, they should've answered me immediately. The truth is that they did not keep even one Dalit member in the committee.

The committee belongs to the upper caste.

This shows us the mentality and attitude of betrayal which the Centre had in mind when they went on to give 'justice' to Rohith Vemula.

The government is still silent on this question. This shows us the 'Dalit-virodhi' mentality of the Centre.

This so-called committee was just formed by the government to cover up the Rohith Vemula suicide matter.

The HRD minister, when she says, 'justice cannot be done on the basis of caste', should keep in mind the huge number of crimes that are taking place against people belonging to the lower caste in the country.

We are not satisfied with her answer. The minister had said that she would cut off her head and put it near my feet if I was not satisfied. Is she going to fulfil her promise now?

14:58 (IST)

Mayawati: I am not satisfied with the answer of HRD Minister, the truth is that the inquiry committee has no Dalit member: Mayawati

I am not satisfied with the answer of HRD Minister, the truth is that the inquiry committee has no Dalit member: Mayawati #RohithVemula

Close to 3,19029 rupees had been given to Rohith Vemula as fellowship. His last fellowship was given in November 2015, an amount of Rs 54000. There however is some more money that he should get which is pending. The impression that has been created that he was denied any money is incorrect.

A proctoral board on 10 August 2015 did have a representative from the backward community and a woman representative as well. The executive council which made the decision to not allow students had also co-opted a member of the SC ST community — the indication that the SC and ST community members were not appointed in these decisions is incorrect.

Executive council took cognizance of the fact of incidents against the students. The ministry also sent officers to meet the academic community in the university, the students and submissions and statements were taken from everyone. One of the officers leading was of the minority community and another from the backward community. I specifically spoke on line to rohith's mother, her plea was that a judicial enquiry be made. I also want to state, the judge who has been appointed in the one-man judicial commission served diligently in UP. Mayawati will have no objection.

(paraphrased)

14:41 (IST)

Sitaram Yechury: Nine times, she (Smriti Irani) has taken my name

14:40 (IST)

PJ Kurien to Smriti Irani: First, minister has to respond to Mayawati.

14:36 (IST)

PJ Kurien: Cannot run a house with people shouting from all corners.

"5 people shouting and strangling the voice of other MPs, is that democracy?" he asks

14:35 (IST)

Rajya Sabha resumes amid members sloganeering against an 'anti-Dalit' government.

13:24 (IST)

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2.30 pm

12:51 (IST)

Anand Sharma expresses anger over Irani's comments

Anand Sharma continuing his comment about Smriti Irani's 'blasphemous' statement said that things have been said about prophet Mohammad and Virgin Mary but they were never mentioned in the house. He questionned Irani's decision to bring it up.

12:30 (IST)

GK Pillai mentioned the two affidavits submitted for the case were contradictory to each other. "One of the affidavits mentioned that they were LeT operatives while in the other one that aspect was deleted. We had nothing to do with it, it was done at a political level," Pillai said when asked who was behind the move.

12:27 (IST)

GK Pillai said that Ishrat Jahan was a part of unit aimed to attack Gujarat Leaders.

12:24 (IST)

Times Now report about GK Pillai's revelations on Ishrat Jahan spark a debate in the Parliament.

For almost four years, dalits and tribals have been arguing their own version of mythology to counter the existing narrative. In 2012, several members of the All India Backward Students Federation (AIBSF) observed Mahishasur martyrdom day on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on Monday evening. Students from other states, including those from Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Bihar, and Lucknow University participated. The programme saw a discussion on the legend behind Mahishasur, the demon king who was slain by Goddess Durga. At one such event, Dalit leader Udit Raj, who is now a BJP parliamentarian, was also also present.

Again in 2014, tribals and dalits in 15 states spread across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa celebrated the demon king as a non-Aryan inhabitant and a just king of the land, with Durga representing Aryan invaders.

Do we hear you ordering your mythology brigade lead by the aptly named Bhim Bassi to round them up for sedition? Do we hear the collective howls of bhakts demanding that now Mysore be renamed after some RSS worker or former chief minister Yeddyurappa ji? Do we hear kar sevaks now being neatly lined up as Durga Vahini to take on the advancing armies of demon Mahishasur? Can we see you mounting a steed to battle the new straw man you have created? Will you now demonise Udit Raj?

12:12 (IST)

United Oppostion takes on the HRD minister hard: Smriti Irani read out from a document that was circulated in JNU about remarks against Durga to show that it was an example of the 'supposed' free speech.

She read about Mahishasur Day that "Durga (Durga Puja) is a controversial racial festival" where a "fair skinned" beautiful Durga is shown killing "dark skinned" demon Mahishasur.

She said that she was asked pointedly if what she was reading was authentic — she said that the documents were procured from JNU which is considered by some political entities as a "temple of learning"

12:02 (IST)

Smriti Irani maintained that she was merely quoting from the books seized from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

11:59 (IST)

Rajya Sabha DY chair says, he will expunge anything that is blasphemous.

11:56 (IST)

Smriti Irani in Rajya Sabha: I am a practising Hindu and a Durga worshipper

11:53 (IST)

Smriti Irani said that she was merely exposing the truth.

11:50 (IST)

Defending herself against the harsh comments from the Opposition, Smriti Irani said that she is a Durga worshipper and that she made those comments "with a lot of pain"

I myself am a Durga worshipper, I said it with a lot of pain: Smriti Irani in Rajya Sabha.

HRD Minister said that there were comments made on the veracity of the facts yesterday — she said that the documents that she was referring to were official documents she recieved from the university and were not the documents of the government.

I read it because I was asked to explain what is the proof: Smriti Irani in Rajya Sabha

Irani then quoted a JNU document which, according to Irani's speech, said that "the execution of Afzal Guru was a nervous attempt by Congress."

"And it (the JNU document) also speaks about a public meeting that they have the right to hold a festival called Mahishasura martyrdom day," she said.

Irani then said that some minority students who were protesting against this festival were beaten up by Left-leaning JNU students.

"What is Mahishasura martyrdom day?" Irani said. She then again quoted the document.

"The document said that Durga Puja is a controversial, racist festival where a fair-skinned goddess is depicted killing a dark demon," Irani said.

She also said that document described Durga as a "sex worker called Durga who enticed Mahishasur into marriage. Every year, thousand of Durga puja pandals are erected showing her in a bad light, in a sexual position."

As soon as Irani finished reading this out, a huge uproar erupted in the Parliament.
"What is happening here? It is highly objectionable!" thundered Anand Sharma. "Tomorrow, if any of the ministers bring in any derogatory reference, what are we reducing this House to?"